For more than 78 years, UNCF has served as a beacon for those ready to invest in—and act on—the belief that no mind should be wasted and no dream deferred.

UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building partners with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Predominantly Black Institutions and their supporters and champions to advance the promise of Black higher education.

We believe in the transformative potential of Black colleges and universities.

Latest News

UNITE for Black Colleges and Universities!

Don’t miss the most influential gathering for HBCUs on Black higher education this July 17-20 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. Early-bird discounts through March 31.

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We Take A Racial Justice Approach to Institutional Transformation and Educational Equity.

Defining Racial Justice

The fair and just empowerment of all racial identities, resulting in equal opportunities, equitable outcomes and liberation for all people. Racial justice is achieved through responsive systems, structures and processes, as well as deliberate, dynamic, proactive and preventative supports—all consciously designed to right historic and social wrongs.

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Active Minds and UNCF Release Recommendations for Supporting Mental Health in HBCUs

Active Minds and UNCF Release Recommendations for Supporting Mental Health in HBCUs

WASHINGTON — Active Minds, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization promoting mental health awareness and education for youth and young adults, and UNCF (United Negro College…

Unprecedented Initiative UNAPOLOGETICALLY FREE Centers Mental Health at HBCUs and other Black colleges

Unprecedented Initiative UNAPOLOGETICALLY FREE Centers Mental Health at HBCUs and other Black colleges

UNCF (United Negro College Fund), The Steve Fund and Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) launched an unprecedented national effort, Unapologetically Free: Centering Mental Health on Black College Campuses.

Institutional Site Visit: Florida Memorial University

Institutional Site Visit: Florida Memorial University

Date: April 3, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM

Our institutional site visit is a critical component of ICB’s support to transformation partners. Each site visit is a two-day opportunity for campus leaders to discuss significant accomplishments and/or challenges.

UNCF Institute for Capacity Building’s Career Pathways Initiative honored in two categories in 2nd Annual Anthem Awards

UNCF Institute for Capacity Building’s Career Pathways Initiative honored in two categories in 2nd Annual Anthem Awards

UNCF Institute for Capacity Building announced today that it has been named Best Business Strategy in the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and Education, Art, &…

The State of HBCUs: A Webinar Series to Advance Institutional Transformation

The State of HBCUs: A Webinar Series to Advance Institutional Transformation

Join our director of Transformation Support, Rev. Dr. Darryl Ann Lai Fang and Program Manager, Deshon Burgess as they host a monthly virtual webinar series: The State of HBCUs and discuss student success, enrollment trends and transformation happening at Black colleges. Register now for our next webinar.

Institutional Site Visit: Spelman College

Institutional Site Visit: Spelman College

Date: April 4, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM

Our institutional site visit is a critical component of ICB’s support to transformation partners. Each site visit is a two-day opportunity for campus leaders to discuss significant accomplishments and/or challenges.

Growing Capacity to Leverage Big Data is Advancing Equity in Higher Education; UNCF and Excelencia in Education Continue to Lead the Way 

Growing Capacity to Leverage Big Data is Advancing Equity in Higher Education; UNCF and Excelencia in Education Continue to Lead the Way 

Today, we announced the successful conclusion of Leveraging Big Data to Achieve Equity, an initiative designed to enhance research capabilities at HBCUs and HSIs.

Expanding Networks for Climate Action in Front Line Communities

Expanding Networks for Climate Action in Front Line Communities

With support from the Waverley Street Foundation, UNCF ICB is exploring how HBCUs can support a new generation of Black leaders in the fights against climate change and environmental racism.

Institutional Site Visit: Clark Atlanta University

Institutional Site Visit: Clark Atlanta University

Date: April 12, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM

Our institutional site visit is a critical component of ICB’s support to transformation partners. Each site visit is a two-day opportunity for campus leaders to discuss significant accomplishments and/or challenges.

UNCF ICB Joins Call for Support for Returning Learners as a National Priority During UPCEA MEMS Conference

UNCF ICB Joins Call for Support for Returning Learners as a National Priority During UPCEA MEMS Conference

UNCF ICB joined national student success professionals at the UPCEA MEMS Conference to discuss a new initiative that enables institutional networks to use coaching to support returning learners.

Coming Together for HBCU Student Success Excellence

Coming Together for HBCU Student Success Excellence

UNCF and InsideTrack partners to help students return to school in the midst of the pandemic. A new case study reveals lessons learned.

Institutional Site Visit: Jarvis Christian University

Institutional Site Visit: Jarvis Christian University

Date: April 24, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM

Our institutional site visit is a critical component of ICB’s support to transformation partners. Each site visit is a two-day opportunity for campus leaders to discuss significant accomplishments and/or challenges.

UNCF Institute for Capacity Building Expands Network Committed to Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

UNCF Institute for Capacity Building Expands Network Committed to Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

UNCF expands transformation partnerships to 42 with newly funded cohort of HBCUs, propelling higher enrollment and student success

Good News for HBCUs

Good News for HBCUs

For decades, Black colleges have been portrayed as deficient. What changed?

CFO Financial Roundtable

CFO Financial Roundtable

Date: May 3, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM

Our CFO Financial Roundtables are designed to facilitate greater CFO collaboration, knowledge sharing, and idea generation. Our Financial Sustainability Team uses these opportunities to refine our approach to assting CFOs in their roles.

The Edge: Putting ‘Digital Equity’ Into the Equation on EdTech Deals

The Edge: Putting ‘Digital Equity’ Into the Equation on EdTech Deals

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports on trends in the HBCU space from the annual EDUCAUSE conference.

Striving for the ‘Gold Standard’

Striving for the ‘Gold Standard’

Some historically Black colleges and universities experienced record research funding this fiscal year. It’s a hopeful sign to a group of HBCUs seeking R-1 status.

Institutional Site Visit: Fisk University

Institutional Site Visit: Fisk University

Date: June 7, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM

Our institutional site visit is a critical component of ICB’s support to transformation partners. Each site visit is a two-day opportunity for campus leaders to discuss significant accomplishments and/or challenges.

There’s a powerful narrative about what it means to be Black embedded in the evolution of Black colleges and universities.

UNCF President/CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax
President & CEO
UNCF

ICB Structure

Vision, Narrative, Champion

Strategy Development

  • Works with internal and external stakeholders to develop an understanding and appreciation of ICB’s mission, vision and strategic priorities.
  • Supports the dissemination of learnings from ICB programs, partnerships and communities of practice.
  • Pursues strategies and innovations that hold promise for Black colleges and universities and the future of Black higher education.
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Institutional Engagement, Planning, Delivery

Transformation Support

  • Provides comprehensive pro-trusive (proactive + intrusive) institutional engagement.
  • Uses the ACT Framework, our emotional intelligence approach, to operate with authenticity, compassion and transparency, while expecting the same from all stakeholders.
  • Executes continuous improvement through the AEIOU Framework: Articulate the problem. Equip the resolution owner. Improve the process. Observe the solution. Universalize the solve.
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Leadership, Governance, Accreditation

Executive Leadership

  • Supports presidents/chancellors and their governing boards to advance institutional missions.
  • Engages institutional leaders in a joint process of development, reflection, assessment and improvement.
  • Advances the belief that transformational change in higher education institutions is only possible when executive leaders are aligned, informed and interconnected to other institutional leaders engaged in the pursuit of similar missions and goals.
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Resources, Business Models, Financial Systems

Financial Sustainability

  • Aligns financial planning and strategy to institutional and student success priorities.
  • Identifies and develops KPIs to evaluate the institution’s financial health and support accreditation. 
  • Promotes thought leadership, professional development and sharing through a community of practice for CFOs and other fiscal officers.
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Innovation, Technology, Virtual Learning

Digital Solutions

  • Leads the development of HBCUv, a shared online learning platform for community learning where students, educators and staff are enabled to learn, develop and flourish together, from anywhere.
  • Develops tailored and culturally relevant opportunities that equip, sustain and promote technology adoption.
  • Ensures institutions are positioned to leverage and shape the future of digital learning and innovation. 
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Data, Information, Continuous Improvement

Knowledge Management

  • Strengthens the capabilities and decision-making capacity of institutions through the development and sharing of actionable data and information.
  • Improves data literacy and systems among institutions to promote proficiency and data-informed cultures.
  • Amplifies knowledge and information that uplift the legacy, impact and potential of Black colleges and universities.
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HBCUv: Shaping the online future of Black higher education

UNCF is designing, with nine partnering HBCUs, an online platform for lifelong learners to flourish together and celebrate Black excellence—from anywhere.

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WE ASPIRE TO SERVE OUR NATION’S BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: 102 HBCUs and 64 PBIs

Through our shared learning practices, we strive to influence all higher education institutionsespecially those serving significant numbers of Black and other marginalized students.

Our Network

Dorothy-Vaughan
IF NOT FOR BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES…

One small step could have been too big a leap.

When Apollo 11 touched down in the Sea of Tranquility that July night in 1969, it was made possible by the invaluable calculations of NASA mathematicians Dorothy Vaughan (Wilberforce University) and Katherine Johnson (West Virginia State University).

With your support, this legacy of shaping the future will continue.

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March_on_washington_Aug_28_1963
IF NOT FOR BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES…

The Civil Rights Movement wouldn’t have gone as far.

Many of the leading lights of the 1950s and 60s movement were HBCU graduates, including: Kwame Ture (Howard University), Medgar Evers (Alcorn State), Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Morehouse College) and Rosa Parks (Alabama State).

With your support, this legacy of shaping the future will continue.

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Marian-Wright-Edelman
IF NOT FOR BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES…

Head Start would have been a non-starter.

Spelman College graduate Marian Wright Edelman founded the Children’s Defense Fund, which fought for key policies like the national Head Start program that has helped lift generations of kids out of poverty.

With your support, this legacy of shaping the future will continue.

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hero-about-landing
IF NOT FOR BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES…

There would be no rising Black middle class.

Within 10 years of graduation, HBCU diploma-holders typically earn more than $71,000 a year. Compared to peers who did not go to college, they will earn $1 million more over their lifetimes. Those HBCU students who are the first-in-family to graduate from college will not be the last, transforming families and entire communities.

With your support, this legacy of shaping the future will continue.

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How many of the 102 HBCUs
can you name?
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